SOLAR FIRM AGREES
TO LOBBYING FINE

Failure to file timely disclosures about activity with public relations firm cited

Sacramento 
San Diego-based Sullivan Solar Power has agreed to pay a $4,000 fine for failing to file timely disclosures detailing $90,000 in lobbying activity.

Sullivan officials said they believed the requisite reports covering Oct. 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2012, would be submitted by their lobbying firm.

“It was our understanding that they were taking care of the reporting, and they didn’t,” said Daniel Sullivan, president and founder of the company that installs solar arrays. “We weren’t familiar with the process. This was our first time doing anything like this. Ultimately we were responsible for getting it done, and we didn’t because we were new to the game.”

Sullivan hired Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide in November 2011 to protect the interests of the solar industry amid a high-profile battle with utility companies.

San Diego Gas and Electric had filed a rate case with the Public Utilities Commission to restructure rates for homeowners, businesses and public entities that had gone solar. State regulators rejected the most controversial components of the plan — a network-use charge — that would have billed solar customers significantly more for their use of the distribution grid.

“We saw the impacts of the prospect of something like that going through, so (we), along with a couple other companies, came together to do something about it,” Sullivan said.

Among the legislation backed by the companies was a bill by former Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, that would have barred utilities from increasing rates for customer-generators that were larger than those applied to others in the same rate class. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown, who said it was premature given upcoming discussions on rate design.

Sullivan has updated its disclosures with the state. The California Fair Political Practices Commission is scheduled to consider the fine at its meeting May 16.